Anticondensation device for flush tanks



March"29, 1949. w. GAINEs 2,465,866

ANTICONDENSATION DEVICEAFOR FLUSH TANKS Filed Jan. 11, 1945 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Mar. 29, 1949 ANTICONDENSATION DEVICE FOR FLUSH TANKS Walter L. Gaines, Urbana, Ill.

Application January 11, 1945, Serial No. 572,385

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to water closet flush tanks, and more particularly to"-an anticondensation device for a iiush tank.

In water closets or toilets having flush tanks, one of the greatest objections, particularly in the summer time, is the condensation of moisture on the exterior of the tank. Frequently this condensation of moisture is so great as to result in dripping of moisture from the exterior of the tank and excessive dampness in the toilet or bathroom. This condensation of moisture on the exterior of the tank is commonly referred to as sweating and is a, result of a low temperature of the water supplied to the tank when the closet is flushed. If the temperature of the water entering th'e ytank is suiiiciently close to the room temperature so that the exterior of the tank does not drop to a temperature suflicient to produce condensation, the disadvantage may be overcome'.

In accordance with the present invention it is proposed to provide a simple device forming a part of the water inlet mechanism or ball valve of the water tank of the closet to raise the temperature of the water suiiiciently to prevent the exterior of the tank from being cooled to the point where condensation of atmospheric vapor will occur. This may be accomplished by controlling the rate at which the water enters the tank and by warming the entering water by atmospheric heat obtained from the surrounding air.

It, therefore, is an object of the present invention to provide an improved ush tank mechanism for preventing tank sweating or condensation of moisture on the exterior of the tank.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved device for flush tanks for warming the entering water.

Other and lfurther objects of the present iny vention subsequently will become apparent by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein y Figure l shows a toilet or water closet ilush tank in cross section to show the mechanism and the invention therein;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the ball valve mechanism of the flush tank; and

Figure 3 illustrates a modified form of the present invention.

In Figure 1 there is shown a flush tank Ill for water closets and the like having an outlet pipe I2 which normally is closed by a tank ball I4 connected to an actuating rod I6. The rod Ii is actuated by a suitable mechanism not shown which mechanism forms no part of the invention. Any suitable tripping mechanism may be provided to raise the tank ball I4 from its seat on the end of the pipe I2 to produce the flushing action. The tank l0 is provided with a water inlet or supply pipe I8 which may have interposed therein a shut off valve 20. Extending upwardly from the inlet pipe I8 is an interior pipe 22 which carries adjacent its upper end a ball valve 24. The ball valve 24 may be of any of the well-known types of structures heretofore used. The outlet of the ball valve 24 is connected to a downwardly extending pipe 26 as is customary. The ball valve 24 is provided with a suitable linkage mechanism includintr an arm 28 having at the end thereof a oat ball 30.

The details of .the present invention will be readily understood by reference to Figure 2 in conjunction with Figure 1. The ball valve 24 carries an arm 32 to pivotally support one end of the rod or arm 28. The outer free end of the arm 28 is connected to a link 34 which in turn is connected to the outer end of an actuating rod or lever 36 pivotally mounted at its other end upon a bracket 38. The lever 36 at an intermediate point passes through a suitable aperture in the valve seat member 40 which is arranged for vertical reciprocal motion within the body of the ball valve 24 to open and close the valve therein. When the valve mechanism 24 is moved upwardly to the position shown, water will enter the pipe 22 and move past the valve and flow into the pipe 26. The valve 24 has an outwardly extending portion 42 into which the pipe 26 is tted. In accordance with the present invention a suitable aperture is provided in the member 42 to receive a pipe 44 which extends downwardly into the inlet pipe 26. The pipe 44 also extends upwardly to a point higher than the highest level which the water in the Hush tank may reach. Adjacent the upper end of the pipe 44 is a shut off valve 46 in the event that it is desired to render inoperative the present invention. Whenever the valve 24 is actuated to supply water to the tank I0, water will passk flush tank I0. If it is desired the lower end o! the pipe 26 may be connected to a transversely extending pipe 48 provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures located as at the points 50 so that the air drawn into the pipe 26 may In the arrangement shown in Figure 2 a structure of the valve 24 is modified to accommodate the air inlet pipe 44. Where it is desiredrto modify existingtank structures in accordance with the present invention, the invention shown in Figure 3 may be utilized. 'I'he extending member 42 of the valve 24 may have connected there to anelbow 48 and a suitable nipple 50 connects the elbow to a xture 52 which is provided with a threaded opening for receiving the pipe 26 and with another opening adjacent the top for receiving the pipe M. Such an arrangement therefore is readily provided for converting or changing existing structures in water closet tanks to incorporate the present invention.

While for the purpose of illustrating and describing the present invention, certain specic embodiments have been shown, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereby since obviously such variations may be made in the instrumentalities employed without deviating from the principles of the present in- 3. In a iiush toilet having a ush tank the combination of a ball valve, a pipe connected to said ball valve and extending downwardly in said tank, anti-sweating means for introducing air into said downwardly extending pipe thereby to raise the temperature of water supplied to said tank, and a horizontal distributing pipe connected to said downwardly extending pipe for distributing the air supplied throughout the water accumulated in said tank, said anti-sweating means including an injector pipe having an.

' air intake opening in proximity to the top of the tank for admitting air from the warmest stratum within the tank into said downwardly extending vention or the spirit thereof as dened in the following claims.

This invention is hereby claimed as follows: 1. In a toilet having a flush tank the combination of a water supply pipe extending upwardly into said tank, a valve for controlling the water from said supply pipe into said tank, an outlet pipe extending from said valve downwardly in said tank, and an anti-sweating device including a warm air source and an air duct extending from said source to said downwardly extending pipe whereby warm air is introduced into the water that flows through said downwardly extending pipe to the tank.

2. In a toilet having a ilush tank the combination of a water supply pipe extending upwardly into said tank, a valve for controlling the water from said supply pipe` into said tank, an outlet pipe extending from said valve downwardly in said tank. and an anti-sweating device for introducing air into said-downwardly extending pipe. comprising an injector` vpipe opening into. said downwardly extending pipe and having an air intake opening in 'proximity to the top of the tank whereby air from the warmest stratum within the tank is admitted into said downwardly extending pipe.

pipe. 4. In a toilet having a ilush tank the combination of a water supply pipe extending upwardly into said tank, a valve for controlling the water from said supply pipe into said tank, an outlet pipe extending from said valve downwardly in said tank, 'an anti-sweating device for introducing-air into said downwardly extending pipe comprising an injector 'pipe arranged concentrically within saidb downwardly extending pipe and extending upwardly above the normal level of water in said tank, said injector pipe having an air intake opening in proximity to the top of the tank for admitting air from the warmest stratum within the tank into said downwardly extending pipe, and ahorizontal distributing pipe connectedto said downwardly extending pipe, saidl horizontal distributing pipe having longitudinally spaced relatively small apertures therein for distributing throughout the water accumulated in said tank air introduced by said injector..

WALTER L. GAINES.

REFERENCES CITED i The following references are of record in theiile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain --.1.--- lApr. 1a. 1939 

